KOKOMO, Ind. (WTHR) – Authorities say they dismantled a criminal drug trafficking organization in Kokomo after raids at 13 locations early Tuesday morning.
15 people, mostly from Kokomo, face federal drug charges:
Pierre Riley, 50, Macon, GA
Reggie Balentine, 41, a/k/a Pudge, Kokomo, IN
Diondre Jones, 34, Kokomo, IN
Michael O’Bannon, 33, a/k/a Lunchy, Kokomo, IN
Kristin Kinney, 35, a/k/a Cupcake, Kokomo, IN
Michael Jones, 35, a/k/a MJ, Kokomo, IN
Jason Reed, 49, a/k/a Jamon, a/k/a Jasil, Kokomo, IN
Derrick Owens, 37, Terre Haute, IN
Deshoun Everhart, 39, Warsaw, IN
Perry Jones, 43, Kokomo, IN
Melissa Baird, 38, Kokomo, IN
Shuan Myers, 35, Kokomo, IN
Antwon Abbott, 38, Kokomo, IN
Patricia Acord, 58, Kokomo, IN
Bradley Clark, 49, Kokomo, IN
At a press conference Wednesday at Kokomo City Hall, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Josh Minkler called 41-year-old Reggie “Pudge” Balentine the leader of a drug distribution ring in Kokomo. Minkler said the source of illegal drugs was a dealer in Macon, Georgia, 50-year-old Pierre Riley, who was also arrested Tuesday.
"The drugs dealt, sold, transported and seized here in Indiana came from the Mexican cartel,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Greg Westfall. “No doubt about it, this was not domestically made methamphetamine."
Juanita Brown lives just a few houses down from Balentine’s house on South Courtland Avenue in Kokomo, one of the 13 locations raided by some 130 agents in pre-dawn raids Tuesday.
“Helicopters were flying around and there was SWAT and DEA here,” said Brown. “They all had guns and it was pretty scary."
"The next thing we know there's cops everywhere,” said Larry, who lives across the street. “Guys in blue shirts, I guess they were with the DEA. State cops, federal cops, county cops, city cops - if they could be a cop, they were here."
No one answered the door at Balentine’s house on Wednesday. Neighbors say children live at the home.
"He always seemed like a really nice guy and everything,” said Larry, who did not want to provide his full name. “We never suspected anything like that going on in the neighborhood."
Operation Law and Order confiscated over 17 pounds of methamphetamine, over two pounds of cocaine, two ounces of heroin, 122 grams of fentanyl, six ounces of marijuana, two money counters, 12 vehicles, $37,000 and 24 guns. No shots were fired, and no one was injured in the raids.
"All that's going to do is put the distribution in somebody else's hands,” said Larry. “Somebody else is going to take over the same thing because there's too much money in it. They're not really going to solve any problems. What they have to do is get rid of the demand for it."
"If you're an addict, I suggest you get treatment,” said Westfall. “I encourage you to get treatment. However, if you're a criminal drug trafficking organization who is exploiting the weakness of addiction like this organization did, you're next."
"If you have a drug addiction problem, our message has always been very simple: get treatment,” said Minkler. “If you are dealing drugs, making this blood money, infesting our communities with addiction, you will pay a price and that price will be harsh."
The case began over four months ago with a citizen’s tip at a Mayor’s community event in Kokomo and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, Unites States Postal Inspection Service, United States Marshal Service, Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department, Vigo County Drug Task Force, Indiana State Police, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Miami County Prosecutor’s Office, Terre Haute Police Department, Warsaw Police Department, Indiana National Guard Counter Drug, Howard County Sheriff’s Department, Howard County Prosecutor’s Office and the Kokomo Police Department.
"We believe cases like this, cases like we just did in this community, will make this community safer,” said Minkler. “It will be safer. It is safer today than it was yesterday. These cases will result in less overdose deaths. Indiana will be the most inhospitable place in this country to deal drugs. That will turn this crisis around."
Those arrested Tuesday face decades in prison if convicted.
"For the people who think just because we didn't knock on your door yesterday, we're not going to knock on your door today, tomorrow, next month, next year, we're coming to get you,” said Kokomo Police Chief Robert Baker.
"I'm glad that they're cleaning up the neighborhood,” said Brown. “It's pretty scary when you've got kids and there are drugs being passed through here and killing people. It's a good thing that they're cleaning it up."